More care centres opening in primary schools

Mrs Rachael Teng with her seven-year-old son Samuel, who goes to the Kids’ Nook student care centre in Opera Estate Primary. She says it is better for him to be there than under the care of a domestic helper. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

The Bedok school is one of 14 to have started student care centres within their premises this year.

Currently 80 such centres operate in schools with an enrolment of more than 6,500 children.

Kids' Nook is operated by City Community Services, set up by the Anglican St Andrew's Cathedral, and caters to pupils from the school aged between seven and 12.

The operator also runs student care centres in North View Primary and Townsville Primary.

All are run independently from the schools they are based in and provide homework supervision for children plus activities such as holiday camps.

Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah, who attended the opening of the centre, said: "Student care centres provide a safe environment. But it's not that the child is sitting there doing nothing - the time spent in the centre is used for a valuable purpose, that is, learning."

The Straits Times

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